Browns to meet struggling 0-7 Rams

Saturday

For once, the Browns are the bullies, and St. Louis is the team singing the blues.

For once, the Browns are the bullies, and St. Louis is the team singing the blues.

Orange helmets held high, the Browns are a blustery 3-3, good enough to feel as though four years of 19-45 is ancient history.

The Rams are at their lowest low, 0-7 for the first time since the franchise debuted 70 years ago as the Cleveland Rams.

Rookie left tackle Joe Thomas reflects the mood of the high-scoring Browns: “I’m just having a blast out there,” he said.

A bad offensive line reflects on the Rams scoring a combined 19 points in four of their last five games.

“It’s not the greatest scenario,” Head Coach Scott Linehan said.

The Browns have laid out their best scenario since returning from oblivion in 1999. Flaws? No doubt.

Here, though, are five reasons the Browns are buoyant as they tee it up under the Gateway Arch:

- Finally, they have a line.

The Rams suffered a huge early loss when left tackle Orlando Pace went on injured reserve. Their latest injury knocked center Brett Romberg out of today’s game.

The Browns, on the other hand, have started a line of Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Hank Fraley, Seth McKinney and Kevin Shaffer in all five games.

- Finally, they have a quarterback.

Derek Anderson is one of the NFL’s top 2007 surprises. Handling pressure like an old pro, Anderson ranks ninth in the league with a 106.1 fourth-quarter passer rating. Compare that to other young starting QBs, Vince Young (95.7), Matt Leinart (85.0), Philip Rivers (69.7) and Jay Cutler (61.0).

- The last four first-round draft picks are delivering.

Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (2004) has the same per-catch average, 17.4, as superstar wideout Chad Johnson. Wideout Braylon Edwards (2005) is almost on pace to hit the 1,000-yard mark before Thanksgiving. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (2006) has three sacks and has forced opponents to scheme around him. Thomas (2007) is playing like the best draft pick of the bunch.

- It means something to be a Brown.

Butch Davis-era teams lacked a feel for Cleveland football. Key men on the ’07 team know the score.

Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski is a life-long Browns fan from Toledo. Brady Quinn pitched for an Ohio high school baseball state champ and wore an Indians cap to October games at Jacobs Field. Years before wideout Joe Jurevicius jumped into the Dawg Pound, he sat in it. Special teams whiz Joshua Cribbs was a four-year starting quarterback at Kent State. Phil Savage cut his NFL teeth with the Browns of the early 1990s.

- Romeo Crennel kept a fragile situation from collapsing.

Last year was as depressing as any expansion-era season. The 2007 opener was as deflating as any expansion-era game.

Crennel’s team is 3-1 at home. It didn’t collapse after a terrible ending at Oakland, winning two of its next three. His players seem to rally around him.

Of course, the mood could do a 180 in three hours. The Browns’ defense ranks last in the league in yards allowed and remains a huge question mark.

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger is in his second week back from broken ribs. He is a Pro Bowl quarterback who frequently lit it up at home in 2006.

If he can get any blocking, he has a dangerous trio in running back Steven Jackson, wideout Torry Holt and tight end Randy McMichael.
That’s a big if. That’s one bad line.

If the Browns don’t beat this 0-7 team, it would be very bad for their rehabilitation.